Page 71 of Had To Be You

“I love this, Liam. Being with you, when you kiss me like that,” she gasps, all hot and wrecked in anticipation of what I’m going to do to her.

Our mouths crash together in a kiss that feels reckless. It’s a rush. Her arms snake around my neck and my hands travel down her back to her thighs.

When we break apart, the anticipation of what’s to come is pumping through my veins. My skin heats, the hair on my arms rise, a needy moan falls from my lips.

“Take your clothes off, Liam,” she pants. The feeling is mutual. There’s no time for foreplay. I can’t wait another second, I just need her naked before me. Together we undress. I shed my suit and shirt and her dress is removed and thrown against the bed and finally we’re both completely naked and ready for one another.

“My hair, Liam. We need to walk out of this bedroom looking presentable. We still have photos to take.”

Taking her hand in mine, I walk us to the adjoining bathroom, trapping her body between mine and the bathroom counter. My front is pressed up against her back, her hands grip the edge of the sink and my hands grasp her waist. My aching hard-on is pushed up against her back and my mouth is only inches from her neck. I breathe her in, the scent of Ellie I’ve missed, and her head tilts to one side giving me access to her long neck. I drag my tongue from just under her ear to the base of her neck, earning me a strangled moan, making my balls tighten.

“I’m apologizing now, Ellie, because this is going to be fast and hard. It’s been way too long since I’ve had you.” Pumping my dick in my hand for good measure, I position myself at her entrance, needing this connection I’ve missed so damn much. More than my last breath.

“Ellie…” her name falls from my lips as I hold her gaze in the mirror in front of us as I sink inside of her. She welcomes me, tightening around me, needing every inch of us connected. “Oh, God.”

“I know, Liam. I know. I love the way you feel.”

I fist my hand behind her neck, kissing and licking and sucking the soft skin of her neck. I take everything I need from her to claim her, to taste her and remind her that she’s mine. Every emotion that has built up over the past week - from not having her, not seeing her, needing her - washes over me and my body vibrates and pleasure builds. A groan works its way up my throat when I reach my release at the same time as Ellie. White-hot fire and bliss shoot through me as I give in to every single sensation ripping through my body.

I grip her thighs tight, holding her as close as I can, not ready to break the connection that joins us. I’m enjoying every last second of the woman I have missed madly. Leaning over her, I kiss the center of her spine, not able to get enough of her now that she’s back in my arms. I exhale, meeting her eyes in the mirror. The look she gives me tells me she feels the same way I do. That was so much more than sex. That was making love.

“I love you so fucking much,” I tell her, looping my arm around her waist, pressing a kiss to her shoulder.

“I love you too. With my whole heart. Always.”

We get cleaned up. I help her into her dress and shoes, and she straightens my tie. “Do you think anyone downstairs noticed we’re missing?” Ellie asks in a post-sex voice, startling a laugh out of me.

“I don’t think I’d care if there was a search party sent out to find us,” I say, and her grin grows wider. “But I guess we really should get back to the party. But Ellie, we will continue this later tonight at my house.”

Ellie’s mouth lifts in a smile that I want to see for a lifetime. “I’m holding you to it.”

* * *

A little later, the sound of a fork clinking a glass echoes across the tent as a Michael Bublé song floats through the air. We’ve just finished dessert and the dancing is about to begin, but not before a rowdy table of my brother’s friends join in on the glass clinking, hoping to see Olivia and Parker kiss.

“I need another. I’m hitting the bar,” I tell Miles who is sitting beside me at the head table.

Pushing up from my seat, I remove my suit jacket and drape it over my chair.

“I’m right behind you, right after I eat your dessert you tossed aside. Jesus Liam, sugar is not the enemy. It’s your friend. You need to live a little.”

Rolling my eyes, I turn and make my way to the bar where I order a Macallan on the rocks and wait as the bartender with pink-tipped hair pours my drink. My mom, Jules and Kate join me with a whistle directed my way from Kate’s lips that feels all kinds of wrong; my girlfriend’s best friend ogling me like I’m street meat. Lifting the glass to my lips, I take a drink, then lick the liquor from my bottom lip.

“Liam you look so handsome,” my mom says, straightening my tie and the collar of my white dress shirt.

“Yeah, Liam.” Jules smiles, practically bouncing on her toes in excitement. “I’ve never seen you look this happy. I’m really glad you and Ellie worked things out.” Her expression is one of happiness and it means something to me to have her approval. Not that it would matter in the least if I didn’t. Nothing would be able to keep me away from that woman.

“Her parents seem awfully sweet and that was extremely thoughtful of you to surprise Ellie with them. I’m proud of you, Liam. That heart of yours is remarkable,” my mom says, patting my chest where my heart is. “Ellie’s mom offered to gift me a few of her homemade roller oils. She said she makes one that will make me sleep like a baby. I told her to meet me for lunch at the Seaside so she could get them to me.”

“That’s nice of you, Mom. I know Ellie will appreciate the gesture.”

Speaking of the girl who has stolen my heart, Ellie catches my eye from where she’s standing on the edge of the dance floor talking to her parents. Her face lights up at whatever they’re saying and those fucking goddess eyes of hers sparkle. I watch, mesmerized, as her head tips back and her smile goes wide. Watching her, my balls tighten, and my temperature rises. I can’t look away from her for more than a second before my eyes are back on her, following the curve of her waist, the dip of her cleavage, the hollow of her neck. I’m watching her over the edge of my tumbler, my gaze running over the course of her body in that dress.

How did we get from there to here? I can’t stop smiling. It’s impossible. I trace my finger along my lower lip, remembering three hours ago upstairs in my old bedroom.

I’m forced from my thoughts just in time when Miles clasps me on the shoulder. “Jesus, you are fucking whipped for her,” he mutters. “She’s got you by your balls, Bennett.”

He couldn’t be more right. My dick is exactly where I like it to be, wrapped tightly in Ellie’s grip. “Yup, I guess she does.”

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